The longer path is faster?

It's just a link,

Unreal?

[Mentor note: The thread title has been edited to be a bit more specific]

I think I already see my logical mistake. I think only the velocity has to be equal at the end. And I found this: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachistochrone_curve

Well, I mean it is fake. It's CGI.
But it might not be false.

I've seen the brachistochrone curve demonstrated, so I know the principle is sound.


But I don't know for sure that the configuration in your link - with its multiple, smooth peaks - is real. I've never seen a multi-peak demonstration. I am skeptical.
I would not take the word of that video.

IMO, the image might be CGI, but the phenomenon is real. The faster ball appears to be traveling along multiple brachistochrone curves.

Heree are two examples of this phenomenon! Isn't physics weird??

valenumr said:

I think only the velocity has to be equal at the end.

Exactly, final speed must be equal, not average speed.

docnet said:

Heree are two examples of this phenomenon! Isn't physics weird??

Oh, I remember this things, at physics classes, we tried to model such an experiment, which was interesting. I still remember how our professor said: "For those who do not study physics, natural things can be magic"

One of my first posts on the forum had to do with this problem:

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/brachistochrone-problem-w-initial-velocity.995659/

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/is-it-possible-to-solve-for-t.996132/